“Whose fault?” asked a quiet, elderly abbé, invited because Madame de Salgues thought no party perfect without a slight, a very slight ecclesiastical flavour. “The fault of the Czar, M. l’Abbé,” returned Cranfort, raising his voice, for the abbé sat at the other side of the table. “If the Corsican adventurer succeeds in erecting his standard once more, and torrents of blood are spilt, it will be the result of the imprudent generosity of the Emperor Alexander. No one can pretend that he was not warned. M. de Talleyrand and every man of sense knew that Elba was no place for Buonaparte. It was keeping a lighted candle at the door of the powder-magazine.” “It did not require the wit of Talleyrand to find _that_ out,” said M. de Sartines. “The Emperor Alexander may have had political motives of his own sufficient to explain his conduct. Most probably he had. If not, his championship of the Buonapartes does honour possibly to his heart, but little enough to his understanding.” Ivan was about to speak, but Henri, with a quick motion of his hand, arrested him. “Not one word, Prince Ivan,” he said in a voice low and tremulous with suppressed emotion. “Not one word from your lips to-night! It is I--I whose life he saved--who must defend him. And from what? Is it from the charge of sparing the fallen? of being too generous, too merciful, too trusting? There are very few who need exculpation from such charges. And I, who but for that mercy of his would now be lying in a nameless grave at Vilna, will not sit by and hear them.--Messieurs, I am a man of peace; I hate strife and bloodshed; and I thought that never again should this right hand of mine touch sword or pistol. Yet I am ready, either now or hereafter, with sword or pistol, or both, for any gentleman, or any number of gentlemen, who may desire to meet me in this quarrel.” “Quel tapage!” muttered Emile. “One man may raise a fine commotion where another may not breathe a word!” Madame de Talmont was terrified by a vehemence so foreign to the character of her son. She interposed, explaining that no harm had been intended, and entreating him to recollect himself. M. de Sartines also hastened to apologize. “I was not aware, monsieur,” he said, “that you were under personal obligations to the Czar. Still I cannot hold myself excused, for I should not have used so much freedom in the presence of M. le Prince. I hope he will be good enough to pardon me.” “No need of that, monsieur,” returned Ivan. “The more freely the conduct of my sovereign is discussed by every loyal Frenchman the more will be his honour. The Czar,” he added proudly, “has saved Europe once. If need be, he will do so again.” Shortly afterwards the guests departed. Henri drew Ivan aside. “You will be obliged to leave us?” he said in a low voice. “Yes,” Ivan answered gravely. “After what we have just heard, I must go immediately to my Czar.”